The Portland daily press., 1887-12-24

bSlAAl0 0hANh ~ N~N-A~@~
might hide her smiles. Here were dress
goods for holiday festivities; velvets In the
darker colors, and satins and silks in all the
tints of rose and violet and lemon and april
cot. Crewels and flosses in a thousand
shades were wrought into wonders OF EN-
broidery, and scattered among them were
dainty trifles for wolk basket or toilette
table. Here were linen damasks in endless
variety of exquisite designs, making little
appeal to the careless observer IN the quiet
value of their whiteness. Near by was the
toy counter. where it seemed as if the world
had been made for children and their dolls.
Beauties in French bisque, and dear little
cuddlesome girl dolls sat in pretty groups,
amid an indescribable confusion of toys and
games; and brightly painted tin roaming
turtles" basked in the sunny smiles OF the
young woman who presided over the scene.
Not far away was the hosiery counter, and
behind it stood Susie Banfeld, with SYM
pathizing expression in her blue eyes, while
her customer of the previous day, she OF the
gray and silver stockings, related her griev-
ance.
'sMy dreadful little boy" she was saying
wanted a tin turtle, and, of course, had 1t.
Yesterday afternoon / sat TRANQUILITY read
ing, and Boy was so quiet l knew he must be
in mischief. / laid down my book to go to
find him, and heard him calling like canary
bird, Mamma! fixed Kissmus present
for YOU. l went into my bedroom; and
there, pinned to the mantel scarf, hung
stocking, one of my new gray silk stockings
and that terrible tin turtle was thrust, head
first into It'll OF course its paws had torn
the top of the stocking; and from the rents,
long ladders of dropped stitches ran nearly
to the foot. See what wreck!' concluded
the lady, holding out for Susie's inspection a
small parcel.
Susie checked an impulse to laugh, and de-
clared it was too bad.
"And you are quite, quite sure, that you
have no more stockings like these?" said
the customer.
Susie took down various boxes; other tints
of the same fashion were to be found, but
not the delicate pearl gray desired.
"I'm SO sorry" said Susie. Then bril-
liant idea occurred to her mind. IF you
cared" she said, ito have this one mended-
if you will trust it to me- think it can be
done for you"
81 shall be really grateful if you will, an
swered the customer; without these stock
ngs the entire effect of my gown will be
spoiled" She took a gold piece from her
purse. IF you will kindly pay for me who
ever does the work." she said, "and have the
stocking sent early this evening to the x
Hotel, shall be greatly obliged to you"
Susie promised. At the noon recess she
availed herself of some moments of liberty
to run home and claim at Miss Lucilla's
hands the promised. specimen of fine darn
ing, also prevailing upon her to accept the
relative gold piece.
That evening, Susie induced her lover to
escort her to the Y hotel; since to no hand
of errand boy or district messenger would
she entrust the triumph of needlework for
which she held herself personally response
BILE.
Fred and Susie. indeed, went no farther
than the office of the hotel; but the readers
of the PRESS shall be privileged to see the
reception accorded to the restored stocking.
Marie, the French maid, in neat cap and
apron, received the package from the hands
of the bell boy; and hastened with it to the
room where her mistress stood before mir
ror, giving the last touches to her toilette of
pearl-gray silk and rosy chrysanthemums.
One foot was already dressed; a gray satin
slipper awaited the other foot at the mo-
ment thrust into quilted shoe.
"Here, finally, is Madame's stocking" an
nounced Marie.
"What lovely mendingl it is like lace
work. Maurice. come here a moment!" cried
the young lady.
Her husband came from the next room.
where he awaited her; and as she held up
the stocking for him to admire it, something
bright and hard fell from it and rolled on the
carpet toward him. Hepicked itup. 1t was
a worn ring of red gold set with heart
shaped ruby-Miss Lucilla's ring. He scru-
tinized it, while his wife resigned her pretty
foot into Marie's hands, to be dressed in its
stocking and slipper.
"Heavensl" exclaimed Maurice Amory.
"This ring must have belonged to my grand
mother. Look, Violetta"
He pointed out to his wife the inscription
inside the ring: Joel Amory to Althed Yves
ton. 1920.
'Your grandmother. Maurice? Did she
Ulcilu lily NOy ouO COulNn ohO
must be nearly hundred years old-she
couldn't unless she were one of those per-
fectly dear old wonders in the country news
papers that make quilts and go to State fairs
beside cutting all the hay. Maurice dear,
what makes you look so serious? What does
it all mean? Marie, you can 60 now"
AS soon as the maid was departed, her
French ears piqued with curiosity, Maurice
Amory told the pretty woman by his side
the sad story of his fathers youth, his fault
and his flight; how he had written again ana
again to his sister Lucilla, but had received
no answer. at may have been," said Mau-
| rice. ''that my grandfather forbade my aunt
to write; but my father believed her dead,
| for he thought that after their fathers death,
at least, Aunt Lpcilla would have written.
| My idea is, that the old man kept the letters
| back, aud that she never knew they were
sent. Who can say what sort of a life poor
| little auntie will have led all these years.
| For am sure she is alive and near us, Vio-
| letta-and may Heaven help me to find dear
Aunt Lucilla, that may give her a place in
| our home"
Violetta looked in amazement to see her
l UuSDdud SO uocply mOfCu llOll ulo SuotOud-
| ry composure of man of business and Of the
clubs.
"How do you know she is alive, Maurice?'
she asked.
| 81 do not know--I am only certain of 1t in
| my heart" her husband answered.
"You'd call me dear little goose If had
said that" observed Violetta, glancing at
| the mirror.
.violetta," said Maurice, taking her
hand. "Look at me. Are you willing to
take this dear Aunt Lucilla into our house
| if we can find her-and help me to make her
happy there, to charm her into forgetfulness
of all her years of lonely sorrow2"
''Yes, indeed" answered the little woman,
half crying. "Pll be perfectly delighted to,
if you wish it, dear. But, Maurice, I'm per
fectly certain that your awful old grandfa-
ther had a line down from his eyes to his
nose when he was thinking hard, because
you have one this very minute, and l shall
begin to be afraid of you unless you say
something nice instantly"
1t is probable that her husband took COM
passion on Violetta's fears, and said "some-
thing nice, instantly" But all that evening
his thoughts were anywhere but among the
gay party where his Violetta danced like a
roseleaf ON the wind.